Establishment of the District Electoral Councils 

(1) The Central Electoral Commission shall establish the second-level District Electoral Councils, which act on permanent basis, are composed of an odd number of members, of at least 7 persons and a maximum of 11 persons.

(2) In the case of Parliamentary, Presidential Elections, Republican Referendums and General Local Elections, the nominal composition of the second-level District Electoral Council shall be confirmed by the Central Electoral Commission at least 50 days before the Elections Days.

(3) In the composition of the second-level District Electoral Council, with permanent status, the Chairperson is appointed to perform his/her duties in accordance with Law No 158/2008 on the civil service and the status of civil servant. For the duration of his/her duties, the restrictions provided for in Article 22 (1) of this Code shall apply to the Chairperson of the District Electoral Council. 

(4) The other members of the second-level district electoral council shall be appointed at least 55 days before the Elections Day as follows: 

a) two members are appointed by the Court within whose jurisdiction the electoral council is located; 

b) two members are appointed by the second-level local council, within whose jurisdiction the District Electoral Council is located; 

c) one member shall be appointed by each political party represented in the Parliament. 

(5) For the position of a member of the electoral council, of any level, shall be nominated persons who have attended training courses at the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training and hold corresponding qualification certificates, valid at the date of their confirmation as members. Candidatures for the second-level District Electoral Councils, proposed by local Courts and local councils must have university studies in Law or Public Administration. 

(6) In the event of local elections and referendum, first-level District Electoral Council shall be established by the second-level District Electoral Councils or, where appropriate, by the Central Electoral Commission. Those electoral councils consist of an odd number of members, of at least 7 persons and a maximum of 11 persons and are established at least 40 days before the Elections Day. 

(7) For the establishment of the first-level district electoral councils, at least 45 days before the Elections Day, the candidatures of 2 members shall be proposed by the first-level local council and, if those proposals are missing, the remaining seats shall be supplemented by the Central Electoral Commission of the persons entered in the Register of Electoral Officials. Nominations of the other members shall be submitted by the political parties represented in the Parliament – one from each political party. In the limit of possibilities, persons with university studies in Law or Public Administration shall be include in the composition of the District Electoral Councils. 

(8) If political parties fail to submit their candidatures for the District Electoral Council, at least 5 days before the expiry of the period for establishment the District Electoral Council, the necessary number of seats shall be completed by the local councils. If the later do not submit their candidates, as well as if after the nomination of the candidates by all the subjects entitled to do it, the number is insufficient, or the District Electoral Council consist of an even number, the remaining seats shall be filled by the Central Electoral Commission from the persons entered into the Register of Electoral Officials. 

(9) Within 3 days of the date of confirmation of the nominal composition of the second–level District Electoral Council, its members choose the Secretary of that council. Within the same timeline since the confirmation, the members of the first-level District Electoral Council choose the Chairperson and Secretary of that council. The results of these elections shall be communicated immediately to the Central Electoral Commission and, where appropriate, to the corresponding second-level District Electoral Council. 

(10) During the electoral period, the District Electoral Council shall adopt decisions with the vote of the absolute majority of the members. 

(11) The Peculiarities of the District Electoral Council’s organisation and functioning are laid down in the Regulation of its activity, approved by decision of the Central Electoral Commission. 

(12) For polling stations opened aboard, the Central Electoral Commission will establish a separate electoral council, with the headquarter in Chisinau Municipality, which will ensure the organization of electoral processes in the out of country polling stations. 

(13) For the polling stations opened for the localities from the left bank of Dniester River, the Central Electoral Commission will establish a separate electoral council, with the headquarter in Chisinau Municipality, which will ensure the organization of electoral processes in the polling stations created for the localities from the left bank of Dniester River. 

(14) The District Electoral Council shall be assisted during the electoral period of an Office, the staffing of which is approved by the Central Electoral Commission on the proposal from the electoral council.